Residents Asked To Help Keep Darien's Waterways Clean

Darien CT

09 August, 2021

1:59 PM

Description

Information via the Environmental Protection Commission DARIEN, CT — With the recent storms and flooding across many areas of town, it is a good opportunity to remind residents of some of the obligations relative to maintenance of the rivers and streams which border private property. Proper precautions and maintenance done throughout the year can help minimize any impacts to downstream properties as a result of such large storms, according to a news release. Actions that you can take on a routine basis include not raking leaves, grass clippings or other debris into, or adjacent to the watercourse. This will help minimize the likelihood of these items clogging the watercourse or any downstream pipes. It is also important to keep the area adjacent to the watercourse free of any other material such as children's toys and lawn furniture which in a large storm event, could be swept downstream. There may be instances when obstructions occur due to events such as trees falling in the watercourse, stone walls collapsing, or other blockages that may result in preventing the normal flow of water. When these blockages occur on private property it is the individual owner's responsibility to remove them. Please keep in mind that a blockage may affect a neighbor's property more than your own and it would be the considerate thing to do to remove it. If you would like to dredge the watercourse, such an action requires review and approval from the Town's Environmental Protection Commission. Contact the Environmental Protection Officer in the Planning and Zoning Office for more information at 203-656-7351. As always, we appreciate your cooperation in keeping Darien's waterbodies clean, minimizing flooding risks for your property and your downstream neighbors, and making the town a great place to live.